I’ve had success with titles under James Patterson’s imprint so I was very excited to receive this from NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson in return for an honest review. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀

 

The first 1/3 of the book sets up what I think would be a good PG-13 flick catering to the Fast and Furious crowd. The entire tale is fast paced and full of shenanigans but it gets a little too crazy for me. I did like the American Beauty vibes it gave off between the main character Aidan and the father of his friend but I wished it would’ve stayed more believable/suburban. It is technically YA after all. I see why it went off on all cylinders. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

 

Here’s the part I take issue with and the clincher for the rating. With an LGTBQ lead portraying some common circumstances not often spoken about and an ally person of color as his best friend, many opportunities to speak to the state of civil rights were not just missed but seemingly dismissed. It’s not a requirement for me to like the lead and Aidan is not particularly likable but at one point he calls strangers in a club “fucktards” for being overzealous. ⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Not a good look even in a book.